I went to the door and out into the hall. Luckily, I remembered the way to my guest room. But even if I hadn't, I could have followed my own scent. I listed drunkenly as I navigated the vine-strewn corridors, but not because I was drunk. I was just so damn tired. Being a fairy godmother is hard work.
“Rat Boys, evil bitches, glass slippers, pumpkins,” I muttered. “And a fairy goddessmother.” I snorted.
When I finally closed the door of my guest room behind me, it was with a sigh of relief. I locked the door and headed to the bed, then stood beside it and glared at the vines. I couldn't spend another night in my dress. For one thing, it was beginning to smell, and for another, it wasn't all that comfortable to sleep in. So I pulled it off, then grabbed the vines hanging over the bed and wound them into a knot.
“Ha!” I pointed at them. “Take that, you pesky plants!” I slid in beneath the covers and closed my eyes.
An hour later, I was still tossing and turning. I couldn't stop thinking about Rivella nearly dying. The Rat Boys. The murderous mother and daughters. It was all too perfect. They had to be part of the original story. Maybe Rory had tracked Rivella another way. She'd always been meant to run, that's for certain. So perhaps I hadn't screwed things up too badly.
With that thought, I finally managed to find some sleep.
Chapter Seventeen
The next day, we went back to Halfsprings to check on it and investigate further. I wanted to sniff around some more. Rivella came with us. As the King and his lady love spoke to the villagers, I wandered away, leaving the homes for the jungle that surrounded it. Yes, I said jungle. That close to the border to Water, the climate changed and became humid. So, I walked into a world of glossy leaves, rubbery bark, and flowers as large as shrubs. The colors were vibrant, as if someone had turned up their volume, but I didn't let them distract me.
I was on the hunt.
I just didn't know what for.
I kept walking toward the Water Kingdom. King Guirmean was a friend and a good king. But before him, Queen Dubheasa had ruled, and, to put it kindly, she was a horrid bitch. I suspected she was behind this, whatever this was. Because she was just that kind of awful.
But nothing unusual jumped out at me as I headed deeper into the jungle. Well, a couple of fey animals did, and they were very unusual, but you know what I mean. Nothing pertaining to the sinking village. Maybe it was just one of those weird things. I turned around and headed back the way I'd come.
Then a deadly predator pounced.
“Ahh!” I cried out as someone grabbed my arm and pulled me in against a solid chest. I looked up into a pair of yellow dragon eyes and grimaced. “For Fire's sake, Arach!” I smacked his chest. “Don't do that! You startled me.”
King Arach's lips twitched. “I couldn't possibly have. Not the only woman who has ever laid me flat.”
I snorted. “That turned you on, did it?”
“Turned me on?” He lifted a brow.
“It made you lusty. Randy. Hot. However you guys say it back now.” I chuckled. “Back now. I like that.”
“Ah. Turned me on,” Arach mulled over the words. “Yes, indeed. I very much enjoy the thought of a woman who can match me out of bed as well as in.”
“Match you?” I pushed him away and snorted a laugh. “I can best you.”
“Now, don't get cocky, Starlight.” He pulled me back into his arms.
“Nope.” I pointed at him. “Don't call me that. That feels weird.” I didn't want to tell him that it was another man's pet name for me. This Arach would not understand.
This Arach still frowned. “Weird? I thought it was charming.”
“You are not charming.” I slipped away.
But once more, he grabbed me and pulled me back.
“Mayhap I should call you eel, for the way you keep sliding through my hands.” He bent and nibbled on my neck, making appreciative sounds.
My neck is a big erogenous zone for me. My Arach knew that, but this one didn't need to. Not yet. So I bit back my moans and angled away, remaining in his arms but out of range.
“How did you find me?” I demanded.
“I went to Crith-Fuinn, and the Trolls sent me in your general direction.”
“You tracked me by my scent.”
